Reduction in violence – Taliban stage two attacks

MAZAR-E-SHARIF (SW) – Local officials in Balkh province said Taliban fighters attacked security forces' checkpoints in Zari district of the province on Saturday morning killing two security forces.

A source at the 209 – Shaheen Crops, confirming the incident said two soldiers were killed and three others were wounded in the incident.

Elsewhere, in Paktia province, spokesman for the governor, Abdullah Hasrat, has confirmed to media that Taliban fighters have attacked security forces in Zazai Aryub district of the province. According to him, the attack began at 1 am and continued until 3 am. The attack did not cause any casualties among government forces, he said.

The Taliban's morning raid on government positions comes as the plan to "reduce violence" begins Friday night. The plan to reduce violence would be implemented nationwide and would cover all provinces and districts for a week.